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The applications of fractal geometry and self - similarity to art music

Dissertation (MMus)--University of Pretoria, 2014.

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Other Authors: Johnson, Alexander F.
Format: Thesis
Language:English
Published: University of Pretoria 2015
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access_status_str Open Access
author2 Johnson, Alexander F.
author_browse Johnson, Alexander F.
author_facet Johnson, Alexander F.
collection Thesis
dc_rights_str_mv © 2014 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria.
description Dissertation (MMus)--University of Pretoria, 2014.
format Thesis
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institution University of Pretoria (South Africa)
language English
last_indexed 2026-06-10T12:37:24.530Z
license_str Other — see source repository
provenance_str_mv Harvested via OAI-PMH from UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository
publishDate 2015
publishDateRange 2015
publishDateSort 2015
publisher University of Pretoria
publisherStr University of Pretoria
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source_str UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository
spelling oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/43254 The applications of fractal geometry and self - similarity to art music Johnson, Alexander F. ilsesteynberg@gmail.com Steynberg, Ilse Algorithmic composition 1/f-noise Fractal geometry Repetition Fragmentation UCTD Dissertation (MMus)--University of Pretoria, 2014. The aim of this research study is to investigate different practical ways in which fractal geometry and self-similarity can be applied to art music, with reference to music composition and analysis. This specific topic was chosen because there are many misconceptions in the field of fractal and self-similar music. Analyses of previous research as well as the music analysis of several compositions from different composers in different genres were the main methods for conducting the research. Although the dissertation restates much of the existing research on the topic, it is (to the researcher‟s knowledge) one of the first academic works that summarises the many different facets of fractal geometry and music. Fractal and self-similar shapes are evident in nature and art dating back to the 16th century, despite the fact that the mathematics behind fractals was only defined in 1975 by the French mathematician, Benoit B. Mandelbrot. Mathematics has been a source of inspiration to composers and musicologists for many centuries and fractal geometry has also infiltrated the works of composers in the past 30 years. The search for fractal and self-similar structures in music composed prior to 1975 may lead to a different perspective on the way in which music is analysed. Basic concepts and prerequisites of fractals were deliberately simplified in this research in order to collect useful information that musicians can use in composition and analysis. These include subjects such as self-similarity, fractal dimensionality and scaling. Fractal shapes with their defining properties were also illustrated because their structures have been likened to those in some music compositions. This research may enable musicians to incorporate mathematical properties of fractal geometry and self-similarity into original compositions. It may also provide new ways to view the use of motifs and themes in the structural analysis of music. lk2014 Music MMus Unrestricted 2015-01-19T12:13:18Z 2015-01-19T12:13:18Z 2014/12/12 2014 Dissertation Steynberg, I 2014, The applications of fractal geometry and self - similarity to art music, MMus Dissertation, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, viewed yymmdd <http://hdl.handle.net/2263/43254> M14/9/125 http://hdl.handle.net/2263/43254 en © 2014 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. application/pdf University of Pretoria
spellingShingle Algorithmic composition
1/f-noise
Fractal geometry
Repetition
Fragmentation
UCTD
The applications of fractal geometry and self - similarity to art music
title The applications of fractal geometry and self - similarity to art music
title_full The applications of fractal geometry and self - similarity to art music
title_fullStr The applications of fractal geometry and self - similarity to art music
title_full_unstemmed The applications of fractal geometry and self - similarity to art music
title_short The applications of fractal geometry and self - similarity to art music
title_sort applications of fractal geometry and self similarity to art music
topic Algorithmic composition
1/f-noise
Fractal geometry
Repetition
Fragmentation
UCTD
url http://hdl.handle.net/2263/43254